Top SMB Challenges — and How a Cloud Communications Solution Can Help

Today's small businesses are working harder than ever not just to survive, but to thrive. With fewer employees, ever increasing costs, and a perpetually mobile workforce, it's hard to keep your employees connected, let alone have time to advance your business. In this blog, we'll show you what to look for in your new business phone system so your communications will recover some of that valuable time.

Owning and operating a small business brings a unique sense of satisfaction, but it can also be a nail biter. The challenges that cause minor hiccups in an enterprise company can create major turbulence for an SMB.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure all your service partners have your back, including your cloud communications provider. Having a unified business phone system that covers all your needs – voice, text, shared numbers and more – without breaking the bank can support you in tackling the other things on your plate.

Here are five challenges SMBs are facing this year, and how the right cloud communications solution can help:

Challenge #1 – Rising cost of doing business

A recent survey_[1] found that inflation tops the list of small business concerns. Not only has the cost for raw materials and inventory gone up, but so have rent, labor and utilities. Many SMBs feel squeezed from all sides.

The right small business phone system gives you the features you need at an affordable price with flexible user plans. That means you avoid paying for bells and whistles you don’t really need. Instead, you get reliable, rock-solid voice and texting service wherever you work; easy integration with Microsoft Teams; shared numbers and call routing; and attentive customer support that doesn’t treat small businesses as low priority.

Every dollar counts for small businesses navigating the economic climate in 2024, so make sure your cloud communications solution suits both your needs and your budget.

Challenge #2 – Fewer employees

Staffing concerns are on the minds of many small businesses that are finding it harder to attract great workers. A report by the National Federation of Independent Business_[2] found that 37% of small business owners have unfilled job openings, and 16% said labor quality was their top business problem. That’s a slight improvement from last year, but still too high.

With the right business phone solution, you can do more with fewer employees. Look for a platform that gives you the flexibility to communicate by voice or text from anywhere using its mobile or desktop app, so you have access to your business communications features on your mobile device or computer. You should also request an automated attendant to create a high-quality calling experience. It lets you personalize your company greeting message with useful information and route calls to the right people at the right time. Call queue is another great business phone feature that enables you to manage high calling volumes during seasonal operations or meet growing customer care demands.

With this type of flexibility in your cloud communications solution, you can keep business moving forward even when staffing is light.

Challenge #3 – Lack of IT support

Small business owners don’t have the luxury of in-house IT specialists to work out technology problems. Resolving downtime or technical issues is therefore your burden to bear. An hour or two spent figuring out a problem could result in unfinished work, unanswered calls and, quite often, interrupted evening or weekend time with family or friends.

The right cloud communications solution should be a cinch to install and intuitive to use without a lot of time spent setting up or managing your account. It should also have user-friendly support available when you need it, both through online resources and live agents, so you can get problems handled quickly and get back to running your business.

Not every cloud communications provider prioritizes technical support, especially for smaller businesses, but finding one that does will save you time and frustration.

Challenge #4 – Need to be available 24/7

The typical SMB leader is constantly on the go. You may have to leave your desk to visit a customer or vendor, pick up supplies, cover the showroom, work a tradeshow or conduct inventory at the warehouse. No matter the reason, you have to be able to take your business communications with you, wherever and whenever you go.

The right cloud communications solution provides the highest level of freedom by letting you share numbers with your teammates, so anyone can answer a call while you’re out of pocket. SMBs are more mobile than ever so your business phone solution must have the flexibility and bandwidth to move in step.

Choose Cloud Communications Designed for Small Business

SMBs have a heavy lift to succeed in 2024, so let your cloud communications platform carry some of the weight. Affordable, flexible, cloud voice and texting service, paired with attentive customer support, will ensure you can communicate with your staff or customers anytime and anywhere – no matter what else the day might throw at you.

When you’re ready to select a provider, make sure to consider Cloudli. Designed specifically for small businesses, our cloud communications platform provides high-value and robust reliability. Plus, we can integrate with Microsoft Teams to give you enterprise-level interoperability without the costly features you don’t need.

Reach out to a Cloudli partner in your area to learn more.

[1] Source: Statista: Single most important problem for small businesses in the United States in May 2024

[2] Source: National Federation of Independent Business: Optimism on Main Street Declines as Inflation Looms as Top Challenge